National security has been a Republican issue, but this year
the Democrats are using it too. They're focusing on the war in Iraq, while the
Republicans are talking "terror" and "Islamo-fascism." We look at the different
language used by each party to generate anger and fear.

FROM THIS EPISODE

National security has been a Republican issue, but this year
the Democrats are using it too. They're focusing on the war in Iraq, while the
Republicans are talking "terror" and "Islamo-fascism." We look at the different
language used by each party to generate anger and fear. Also, is bad spinach from Salinas, California a sign of a bigger E. coli problem, and liberal and conservative churches are being warned that
political activity can be a risk to their tax exemptions.

Federal officials have warned Americans not to eat any fresh spinach, whether it's loose or packaged, because of possible E. coli contamination. At least 109 people in 19 states are sick because and one woman has died. Like nine previous outbreaks over the past ten years, this most recent one appears to have its origin in Salinas, California.

National security used to be a Republican issue, but this year, both parties are using it--in different ways. Democrats want to talk about the war in Iraq. Republicans have escalated their rhetoric from "terrorism" to what they call "Islamo-fascism." We talk with some of the pollsters and strategists who advise candidates about the language they use to mobilize voters. How does a single word or phrase reduce a complex set of facts to a simple fable? Is this year's election all about fear?

Guests:Frank Luntz, Head Consultant, The Word DoctorsJeremy Rosner, Democratic pollster and strategistGeoffrey Nunberg, Senior Researcher at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and InformationGary LaFree, Director of the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism

The IRS, which has investigated 200 organizations nationwide, has warned tax-exempt groups to stay neutral on politics. Yesterday, members of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California told their pastor to defy IRS subpoenas based on an anti-war sermon two days before the last presidential election. Today, United for the Separation of Church and State, which wants churches in eight key states to help register voters for November's elections, warned churches to beware of partisan politicking that could affect their tax-exempt status.

Guests:Joe Conn, Director of Communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State